Two arrested trying to steal ‘high-end’ liquor

The suspects were arrested by Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies as they tried to drive away from the store, 15000 U.S. 31, at about 5 p.m. Thursday.

The store’s loss-prevention staff confronted the men in the store after recognizing them as the suspects in a theft of liquor there on July 19, said Capt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects ran from the store and the store’s staff called police.

Deputies said about $350 worth of liquor stolen from a Muskegon-area Meijer store was recovered from the suspects’ vehicle. Bennett said the liquor was returned to that store.

The suspects are both 20 years old and are now lodged in the Ottawa County Jail awaiting arraignment on retail fraud charges. One is from Muskegon and the other is from Warren.

Bennett said there were outstanding warrants for the Muskegon man’s arrest on retail fraud charges.

Detectives are working with other agencies in their investigation, Bennett said. Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call Silent Observer at 877-88-SILENT.